Dealing with Isolation & Minimizing Burnout

When you work from home, even if you’re around your family all the time, you’re going to feel isolated. You may feel lonely. You may feel trapped. You start working from home out of necessity and you dream about all the freedom that you just know you’ll have. And then? Then? Work at home life slaps you square in the face. With its giant costume jewelry ring. Across your cheekbone.

Suddenly, you find yourself working all kinds of hours. You find yourself thinking about work when you’re doing things with your family. You balance your client needs, housework, and family responsibilities. You just figure that once you die, you’ll get to rest.

That’s isolation in a nutshell. Your freedom begins to feel like chains. So, what’s a girl to do?

Get Out of the House

Yes, really. Even when you have a million deadlines looming. Get out of the house. Go to the park. Go workout. Go to the library. Take your kids swimming. I advocate that you leave your laptop at home…but sometimes even taking your laptop and working from another location can seem life changing.

The longer you stay in the house, the crazier you will become. I’m probably a legitimate recluse. I have zero problem keeping my own company, but even I need an occasional change of scenery. I’m currently sitting in my backyard.

Enjoy the Perks

Everyone wants to work at home ’cause…no pants. At least, theoretically. Pajamas are a standard dream. Those little things eventually get old. There are studies that show people who work from home are more productive. We tend to get more done in less time…and as a result, we tend to continue to put more and more on our plate. Before long, we’re just as stressed out (or more stressed out) as we were when we were in a more traditional job.

Sometimes you just have to stop what you’re doing and enjoy the perks. I like sitting outside while I work. I like to sometimes take a hot bath in the middle of the day. I like to go to the store when most people are at work.

Make a short list of things you were excited to do when you decided to work from home. Then, do those things. You don’t have to do them every day.

You Gotta Take Care of You

Every work at home parent has this moment where we realize all it feels like we do is work and make sure everyone else gets what they need. And when we want or need time to do something we want or need to do, we feel selfish.

We’re not selfish. We can’t expect anyone else to tell us to stop working and do what we want or need to do. Because we’d probably tell them to go to hell because we have responsibilities and deadlines. We ARE the business. And we MUST take care of ourselves which means we are happier when we work.